AKIPRESS.COM - Ukraine's Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry reached an agreement with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy on a joint venture for uranium mining, Ukraine Today reported.

Uranium will be mined in both countries, Interfax-Ukraine reports, referring to a statement made by Ukraine's Energy Minister Ihor Nasalyk.

"Kazakhstan boasts the world's best desalination technology for uranium mining. We agreed that they create a joint venture and begin exploring our fields. The joint venture will also comprise one uranium reserve in Kazakhstan", says Nasalyk.

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In Kazakhstan, uranium ore costs USD 30 per tonne, while Ukraine annually buys 1,500 tonnes at USD 120 dollars per tonne.

The head of Ukraine's Energy and Coal Industry added that the Kazakh partner is willing to buy about 750 tons of resin from the Ukrainian state-owned concern Yaderne Toplyve (Nuclear Fuel).

According to him, Kazakhstan also invited Ukraine to enter the plant construction project on manufacturing fuel assemblies (FA) for nuclear power plants, which would become an alternative to the Russian fissible fuel producers.